Podcast Notes

• We would love to hear from our listeners. Tell us what you think, your current projects, any topics you would like us to cover, or just say “hello”. To reach us follow us on Twitter @MacroFab or send us an email at [email protected].
• Parker 
  • Jeep Radio Working! Article out soon. Uploaded a video last week about it.
  • Modified my Tektronik TDS520 scope to have a USB stick. Replaced the low profile floppy drive with a emulated floppy drive with USB on it. Parker bought it here on ebay.
• Stephen 
  • Synth update. PCBs should arrive next week.
  • To match the transistors for the synth, Stephen is going to use his transistor matcher to test them. See that project here.
  • Stephen needs 6 matched BC547C transistors. He is going to buy 100 transistors ($5.70) so that he can pick the best 6 that match.
  • The Open PLC that Parker and Stephen have been talking about is finally doing something! 
    • Building a hand place bench
    • Controls sensors and barcode scanner
    • Stephen is also going to use it in a museum project
• RFO 
  • Have we gone to far with RGB LEDs? Razer Chroma Mug holder.
  •  Samsung might just be a bunch of pyros. Fire Breaks out in Chinese factory that makes Samsung note 7 batteries.
  • Computers that can survive on the surface of Venus
    • Sulphuric rain is easy, Not being cremated by 470°C (878°F) or crushed by 90 atmospheres or 9MPa is hard.
    • Longest survival time for a human-made object on Venus was 127 minutes, back in 1981 when the Soviet spacecraft Venera 13 landed there. Took the only color picture of the surface.
    • Semiconductor Silicon Carbide electronics, support high temperatures.
    • NASA's Glenn Research Centre developed high temperature wire bonding.
    • GEER—the Glenn Extreme Environments Rig. Can simulate the surface of Venus.
    • Oscillator operated for 521 hours before they turned the simulator off.
• The Footprint Files - Properly marking parts with silkscreen - Capacitors. Look for the article Parker will be writing next week!

Special thanks to whixr over at Tymkrs for the intro and outro!